Antique, Chinese, opium box, silver

[Jeannine Nield]

I cannot find out what this is - can you help please? See pics. It has a very faint mark to the base which looks like 9S. Was told a silver Cinese opium/tobacco/snuff pot but it's so tiny, approx 1½" square. Thank you.

[vicki hufstetler]

Do you have a photo of the base? What do you suppose the blue piece would be made from? Lapis, died agate, soap stone or?

It's a very strange shape, that seems to lend itself to something specific. It might just be an ornate contact lens case?

I found a double circle box which held an opium scale? Might that be what it originally held?

http://ancientpoint.com/inf/118263-vintage_chinese_opium_scale_in_w...

[Jeannine Nield]

Thanks for your reply :)

[tomsantiquesetcetera]

I just happen to have a few old, antique opium bottles. They measure 1-1/2" high, and 1-3/4" high. There are quite a few ads on line for "Opium bottle holders" with a wide range of values depending on metals, age and condition. Needless to say, that is what you have.

[Jeannine Nield]

Thanks Tom - sold it as an opium box for £51. The seller was thrilled with it!